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Losing weight in menopause with medication: my experience
I have to be very honest, I'm 50 now and every year I gain extra pounds. My name is Mariska Pinxt - Van Iersel, and losing weight during menopause is proving to be a lot harder than it used to be. Where I used to lose the pounds fairly easily with a keto diet or something else, I can't do that anymore since I'm going through the menopause. Mega frustrating, that age and those pounds.
I have heard a lot about weight-loss medication and had a very clear opinion about it: not for me! And yet I delved into it.
Doubts: is medication to lose weight justified?
During my search, many questions popped up. Do I think it's ethical? Am I not taking medication away from people with diabetes? Am I a wimp if I do it with medication? And then I also saw celebrities start apologizing for using it. I started talking to DokterEs and she was able to answer many of my questions, in addition to Google and doctors.
Why I started medication to lose weight anyway
And so I started two weeks ago. No, I am not obese, but I do want to be fit and take good care of myself. I see weight loss medication as a tool within a healthy lifestyle. That's why I'm taking a broader approach:
- I do strength training twice a week
- I regularly walk
- I pay extra attention to my diet
- I eat more protein and less sugar
- I have stopped drinking alcohol for 7 months
Especially with the use of medication, I'm paying extra attention because I want this to succeed and it feels like a step in the overall process. I also made a commitment to stop taking the medication after 6 months. A conscious choice, because I don't want to be dependent on it.
How does it feel to use medication to lose weight?
So far, I have not experienced any side effects. My dose is at 0.50 mg, we keep the lowest dose for me. I am very conscious of what I am actually feeling right now. It's not that I'm experiencing a mega full feeling. I do feel full sooner and by making conscious choices I don't eat junk. Meanwhile, I have lost 3 kilos. That of course motivates me enormously.
The taboo surrounding waste medication: let's stop it
What I also notice is that many women who use the drug are ashamed of it. After all, there is a thick judgment on it. Let's stop that. You make the choice to use it or not. What someone else thinks about it is up to that person, but don't let that influence you. You do you!
Now do I want to persuade you to start too? No, but the fact that you are reading this does mean that you are interested. And I understand your doubts. Talk about it and base your choice on that.
I'll keep you posted on my process!
Love, Mariska
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